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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University graduate Geoffrey Grimm ’11 has been awarded a Fulbright grant to teach in Russia. His announcement marks the third awarding of a coveted Fulbright grant to an IWU senior or graduate this year.

“Fulbright program participants possess strong academic merit, great leadership potential a passion for exploring and resolving international concerns,” said Fulbright advisor and Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies Christina Isabelli. “It is wonderful to have three students from Illinois Wesleyan to be chosen for this prestigious program.”

Operating in 150 countries worldwide, the Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Envisioned by U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright in 1945, the program promotes a mutual understanding between people of the United States and other countries of the world. Since its inception, more than 100,000 Americans have studied, taught or researched abroad with the program.

Grimm, an anthropology major from Troy, Mich., will head to Russia for 10 months, where he will teach English. While in Russia, he also plans to conduct socio-linguistic research. “I’ve always had a love of languages,” said Grimm, who spent five months during his sophomore year studying in Spain. “I knew I wanted to learn a third language. When I was growing up, I heard my relatives from Eastern Europe speak Hebrew and Yiddish, and I felt those languages would be a good sounding board for the Russian language.” Grimm has studied Russian for several years at Illinois Wesleyan. “Once I took a class with Dr. Balina [the Isaac Funk Professor of Russian Studies], I was hooked,” he said.

After he returns from Russia, Grimm plans to attend graduate school, working toward his doctorate in linguistics. “The Fulbright program is an incredible opportunity,” said Grimm. “I plan to be a professor someday, so this gives me the chance to teach, and gain a new, cultural understanding.”